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Baidu's Internet search service allows users to find links to pirated music files on non-affiliated Web sites. Universal, Sony BMG, Warner Music and EMI previously sued Baidu in 2005 for copyright violations and lost. EMI, which signed an agreement to offer legal music on Baidu's Website in January 2007, isn't involved in this latest suit.

London-based EMI is suing Sohu along with Universal, Sony BMG and Warner Music for providing links to pirated music.

The lawsuits against Baidu and Sohu may make Chinese Internet companies liable for more damages. Compensation in the cases was calculated on the basis of $71,000 in damages per track, the record-industry federation says in an e-mailed statement. The $9 million being sought from Baidu is based on copyright violations for 127 songs, while the IFPI says the Web site offers links to more than 250,000 pirated tracks.

Baidu had a 60 percent share of the Chinese search market in the fourth quarter, more than double the 26 percent held by its closest rival, Google Inc, according to research company Analysys International. Yahoo! Inc's China unit had 9.6 percent and Sohu had 1.2 percent, the researcher says.